Crushed leaves of Tropical Indigo (Black Henna)

Indicative colour

 blue

Product available in catalog

Vegetal powder (ref C30)

Scientific name: Indigofera tinctoria L.
French name: Indigotier d’Inde
English name: common Indigo, Indian
Botanical origin: Tropical Asia l
Crop production: India, Indonesia, Africa, Central America
Part of plant used: dried leaves

Nomenclature

N° CAS: /
N° EINECS: /
INCI name: Indigofera tinctoria
CI: /

Documents available

• Analysis report
• Technical specifications
• Material Safety Data Sheet
• Raw material information data sheet

Historical importance

The name comes from the Latin indicum, the Indian “who produce Indigo.” The Sanskrit nila gave in Arabic an-nil and Spanish anil. It was also at the origin of the name aniline product made by processing of Indigo. Other species of Indigo are used such as Indigofera suffruticosa Mill., I arrecta Hochst ex. A Rich or I. coerulea Roxb. Botanical identification is sometimes controversial and has evolved over time.

Indigo suffruticosa was the main source of Indigo for precolombian civilizations of Mexico and Perou. It was introduced in South-East Asia.

Indigofera tinctoria is probably native from India and it is still cultivated although the surfaces have been considerably reduced since the 19th century and the advent of synthetic indigo (1882).

Phytochemistry

The dyeing principle is insoluble: indigotine is composed of two molecules of indoxyl in the presence of oxygen. Indoxyl is itself obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of a precursor: the indican.
The oxidation of indoxyl can also produce indirubin.
The leaves also contain a flavonol: kaempferol.

Crop production – Manufacturing

Areas of current production are India, Central America, Indonesia and Africa.
We do have producer partners in South and North India.